Sign and sign character



May 24, 1932. J, BOYCE 1,859,911

SIGN AND SIGN CHARACTER Filedppil 14, 1930 2 sheets-sheet 1 J IBCIYCIESIGN AND SIGN CHARACTER May 24, 1932.

Filed April 14. 1950 Z'SheetS-Sheet 2 BLACK Patented May 24, 1932 AUNITED STATES PATENTS OFFICE :maras Boron, oF LANNION; mcIIIeAN,AssIeNon ro cnI'cAcfo GLAss NovELrY conronATIoN, or. MAnIoN, INDIANA, A'coaronArIoN or INDIANA SIGN ANI) sIaN CHARACTER `Applimion mea April 14,

This invention relates to improvements in 'flood-lighted orexternally-illuminated signs, and particularly to a sign of this typewhich comprises glass characters. Among the salient objects of theinvention are to provide sign characters which shall be exceptionallybrilliant and attractive, whether illuminated by direct or diiusedlight, to reduce to a l minimum the necessity of cleaning, painting orotherwise servicing the slgn, to provlde 5a simple and inexpensivemethod of combining the characters into the form of a sign, to producefastening means which shall obviate the danger 0I breakage of the glasselements during the construction of the sign, and to provide improvedmeans for building' up letters which are of sectional construction.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa face view of a signconstituting one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2- is a faceview of one of the sign units.` v Y Fig. 3 is a section'on line 3--3 ofFig. 2. Fig. -1 is a face view of asign constituting another embodimentof the invention. Y

Fig. 5 is a face view of one of the sign units employed in theconstruction of th sign shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Referring to the species.illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive,the sign therein illustratedcomprises units each consisting of awglass plate or panel 1 having acharacter stroke 2 embossed thereon. The `panel 1 with its integralcharacter stroke 2 is preferably formed of crystal (i. e., transparentcolorless) glass. If desired, the character stroke may be colored byapplying to the inner or under side of `the character stroke atransparent colored enamel fired into the glass. In order to enhance thebrilliancy of the character stroke, facets 2a of any desired form maybemolded therein, as indicated in the drawings.

Behind the character stroke is placed a reflector consisting, in thisinstance, of a sheet of aluminum foil 3. The aluminum foil, be-

1930. Serial No. 444,017.

to corrosion it retains itsrelecting qualities for an indefinitely longtime.

In order to prevent reflection of light from the portions of the panelsurrounding the 'character stroke, I apply to the outer face of thepanel a fired-in coating of black, nonreflecting, i. e., matt enamel. y

Behind the reflecting sheet is placed a sheet of resilient waterproofmaterial, as, for example, a sheet of tarred felt 4. This sheet servesto protect the reflecting sheet 3 and forms a cushion between the glasspanel and the supporting surface and thus aids in preventing breakage ofthe lass during the han' dling and mounting of 51e letters, and whilethe sign is in use.

The panel l, the reflecting sheet 3 and the waterproof cushion sheet 4are secured together to constitute a unitary article of merchandisewhich may be sold to builders of signs. The meansl for securing togetherthe parts of the unit, in this instance, is shown as consisting of ametal sheet 5 having narrow integral flanges 6 at its corners whichoverlie the edges of the panel 1 and serve to hold the elements of theunit together,

The unit just described is provided with means whereby it may be mountedupon any preferred support, as, for example, the walll of a building, awooden panel, orthe like. In Fig. l a support S is indicated. In thepresent instance the securing means consists of lugs 7 on the margins ofthe backing sheet 5, these lugs being perforated to receive screws,nails or the like. In order that sign units may be placed closetogether, edge to edge, the lugs on opposite sides are odset withrespect to-each other. In this instance, there is a centrally locatedlug on one lateral edge of the unit and two lugs on the opposite edge,said two lugs being spaced so as to permit of the single lug on theadjacent edge of the next unit to be inserted behind the first-mentionedunit. It will be seen that the underlapping lug assists in holding thesecond-mentioned unit in place.

In Fig. 1 the spaces between adjacent units have vbeen exaggerated forthe sake of clearness. In practice these spaces or crevices may ingsheet, a cushionsheet anda backing be filled or covered in any preferredmanner, as, for example, by means of cementy If desired, means may beemployed to eX- clude moisture from between the units and the surfaceupon which they are mounted. Such means may consist of cement or afstripof molding 8 extending around the perimeter of the series of units. Suchmolding servesUv .lows V.The sign character very effectively re toconceal-,.the securing lugs However, in

many instances the sign will'be of such size and will be at such adistance from the observer that it is unnecessary to conceal the lugsother than by the application of paint thereto when painting thesupporting surface..

It will be seen "thatsign units oftheconn struction.l herein describedmay be secured to the lupl'iozr'ting surface without the necessity dfb@ilg'holes through, the glass panels,l and thiis, fi'sfpossibletoattachthe units firmly inplace 'without puttinganystress onr the glassraneL yy A'. glass sign letter of such large size that it is impracticable toform itin onepiece may be'cnstructed of a plurality of panelsectionseachbearing a portion ofthe character stroke. Each such panel-sectionwould be a unit comprising a glass panel, a refleteing equipped withsecuring lugs as described in connection with the unit shown in Figs. 2and 3. y v

Fi 4 to 7, inclusive, illustrate analternative orni of unit which isintended to bese: curedfin place by means of small bolts. Said unitcomprisesd a lass i character-bearing panel 10 which may e like ythepanel 1. The unitcfurther comprises a reflecting sheet 11 which may beasheet of aluminumfoil. The unit further comprises awaterproof resilientsheet 12. The parts of the'unit are secured together by meansV of bolts13 extending through openings in the panel, the aluminum foil and4 thewaterproof sheet, a thin'washer 14 and a small thin nut 15 on thebolts'e'rving to hold the parts together. The unit maybe attachedto avwood mounting boa-rd `or a sheetmetal-backing S by passing theprojecting ends of the bolts 13 through openings in such mounting boardlor metallicbacking. Nuts 'le serve to secure the units to such,supporting structuren Inasmuch as the supporting structure is clampedbetween the nuts 15 and 16, the operation of mounting the units upon thebacking places no pressure upon the glass panel. f

The outer surface of each panel surround-l .ing the character strokemay-be rendered vis' -.eflicient, durable, and inexpensive.

mmc.

i The features ofkli't'he two species'y unit y herein'disolosed may besummarized as foliects the light :falling upon it. f The reliector(formed as it is of aluminum foil or the lik) T e character stroke maybe given various colors by applying'toiits rear or inner side apermanent coat `of transparent `vcolored enamel, preferablyired in.,.The cushion 4 or 12 protects the glass panel froml shock. `'Theassemblage ofthe various elements into Ythe form of a unit produces anarticle that may be conveniently shipped, handled and incor-` poratedinto a sign. Each unit has securing means of suchnature that-thesign-builder need not 'bore holes in ther glass panel. p Nor need thesign-builder employ the usualfexpensive sheet metal stencil, .although astencil maybe used if desired. The panels are of such dimensions that inthe spelling yof a word the distances between letters will be uniform.i, p AV sign constructed ofv my improved units requires a minimum 'ofservicing. .l

In certain of the following claims the term support is used to denote awooden panel or board, a sheet-metal supportLthewall of abuilding orother supporting means.' The term non-reflector is used to denote a.matt coating on the front side of the glass panel, a stencilwhich'vcovers all of the panel except the character stroke, or otherequivalent means.v While the foil3 is ya highlyl-eflicient andinexpensive reflector, the termrefle'ctor is used in the claims todenote, generally, means to reflect light through the character stroke.f

I claimas my invention:

, 1..'A sign unit'comprisinga glass. panel havinga characten strokeembossed on the frontlside. thereof, a sheet 'of-v aluminum foil behindthe .character stroke. and extending. beyond the"'edge'. sy ofi'the.Stroke,fa resilient sheetnbehin jaba'cking sheet behindt the resilientYshee and meansto secure said panel, foilfandkslieets'togetlier. Y

= Al Sigfanireemprising a 4glass panel;

having a characterstrciken embossedv on ftlie front side thereof,flla'th'in lieiribleA retl'ectonbehind'and 'extending beyond the" edges"of 'the character stroke, a@resilient'sheet behind the panel, ametallic backing sheet behindthe resilient -sheet,f and meansy :to.secure vsaid panelfrellectorcand sheets together.;

3. A si .vunitconprising 'a glass. anel. having a caracterlstrokefthereon,.a `re ector behind. sai-dpanel,a-eushionlsheet-behind,-the reflector, bolts extending through registering ggg aflixedmy si ature.

gn JAMES BOYCE.

